Page 106 of The Eagle's Vault

“But,” I echoed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to pull her close. Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her face, the sun highlighting the red undertones. The sight stirred an uncomfortable desire within me, a warmth that spread to my chest. I forced the thought away. “It’s the first time I’ve been betrayed and ended up… Well, this isn’t so bad.”

“Not so bad?”

What did I mean? What were the right words? I wasn’t ready to admit I might be falling for her, that she’d occupied every crevice of my brain over the last two weeks.

It was just a bit of fun. A way to pass the time.

I could almost hear Jayce and Scarlett’s laughter when they’d called me a goner. Scarlett liked her—that was a first. She hadn’t liked any of my girlfriends. She’d always been polite about it, but she had a way of being polite while still making her distaste clear to anyone who knew her well enough.

I let go of Leigh, dragging a hand through my hair.I am not falling in love. We haven’t known each other long enough.

And yet, I’d made plans to go to Boston. Not out of worry for Isaac and Fenix, but because I didn’t want to stop being with her.

Leigh looked up at me as we walked. “What do you mean, Declan?”

For a fleeting moment, I contemplated telling her, laying it all bare. How she’d unlocked something in me I hadn’t known existed, how peeling back her layers had been more satisfying than any vault or safe I’d ever cracked. I’d always preferred the simplicity of steel boxes to the complexities of women.

But Leigh? Leigh was worth the risk.

“Nothing,” I finally said, forcing a smile. “I’m just happy we met, that’s all.”

A soft blush crept up her cheeks. She nudged me with her hip, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I feel the same.”

I chuckled, leaning in to kiss her temple. “After everything we’ve done, you shouldn’t be blushing at something as mundane as that.”

She grinned up at me, the blush still coloring her makeup-free cheeks. “I’ll work on it.”

As we turned a corner, the narrow cobblestone street opened into a bustling square. The momentary silence between us was shattered by Leigh’s gasp, her hand reaching out to grip my arm.

Before us, the Trevi Fountain reared majestically, a dazzling display of baroque artistry. Intricate figures of Neptune, god of the sea, and his tritons carved out of travertine stone. Above them, a grand arch framed the scene, crested by the papal coat of arms. Cascades of water drove beneath it all, the scene a testament to the power and grandeur of the sea.

Surrounding the monument, spectators jostled for space. People of all ages, some clad in loose summer attire, others with phones up capturing every inch, milled around the fountain’s periphery.

“It’s beautiful,” Leigh whispered, barely audible over the sounds of the crowd. “That was the only thing missing from my trip to Rome.”

Yesterday, we’d toured the city on foot and by Vespa, just like she’d wanted. She’d seen every highlight she wanted to, although we hadn’t had time to linger.

I waggled my eyebrows. “Oh really? I had no idea.”

Her face softened into a smile as she led me down steps, between people, and to the edge of the fountain. Placing our half-empty gelato cups on the lip of the fountain, she dug into her bag and handed me a coin. “You throw your coins one at a time, right hand over your left shoulder. It’s very specific.”

“Isn’t it supposed to be three coins?”

“One coin to return to Rome.” She forced me to turn my back to the fountain. Standing side by side at the edge of the busy fountain, we both tossed a coin into the shimmering pool.

Leigh smiled as she continued, “The next coin is to fall in love with a beautiful Italian.” She put a coin in my hand and readied another for herself.

I held up a hand to pause her. “Does it have to be an Italian?”

“That’s how the legend goes.” She shrugged. “Not sure if you can argue with legends.”

“Fair. What about the third coin?”

“The third coin is to marry the one you fell in love with.”

I nodded, rolling her words around in my head. As I flung the second coin into the fountain, an unexpected thought passed through my mind.This one’s for you, Nonna.

Leigh chuckled, her laughter music to my ears, as we tossed our third coins into the water. Without another thought, I pulled her close, my arms enveloping her as I kissed her. The crowd, the noise, the entire world, faded away.

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